HerStory

HerStory is every clubwoman’s story. It is a microcosm of the evolution of women throughout the country for over 113 years. More

HerStory is every clubwoman’s story. It is a microcosm of the evolution of women throughout the country for over 113 years.

After the Civil War women in our country began to find their voices. They got involved in prohibition and then began the quest to win the right to vote. In 1868 a small group of women met in New York and started the first women’s club in order to gain equal rights and in 1890 a number of these newly formed clubs joined together to form a federation.

The Lompoc Alpha and Literary Club was born from that movement. We follow the lives of six founding members, their friend “Appie” and their descendents as they work together to help develop and improve their small town on the California central coast. We marvel at their courage and grit and share in their hardships and losses as they achieve many accomplishments. HerStory is history from women’s perspective. It’s the whole story!

This is Mary Lou Parks’ third book. As an almost retired Registered Nurse and Gerontologist she is now focusing more on volunteer work in her community. She has been a member of Lompoc’s Alpha Literary and Improvement Club for a total of 19 years and when asked, agreed to take up the cause of writing the story of the 113-year-old club that had been attempted earlier in the 1980s. Mary Lou and her husband Tom still travel some and enjoy visiting family and friends.